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How to Play The Price Is Right

The Price Is Right is one of the longest-running and most beloved game shows on American television. With its mix of pricing games, enthusiastic contestants, and unforgettable showcases, it's a high-energy celebration of smart shopping and big wins. Whether you're watching at home, planning a themed event, or designing your own version, this guide explains the rules and format of the show step-by-step.

Show Format Overview

The Price Is Right typically consists of nine contestants chosen from the audience throughout the episode. The show unfolds in the following segments:

  1. Contestant's Row (One Bid): Four players compete to guess the price of a prize without going over.
  2. Pricing Games: Winners from Contestant's Row advance to play one of over 70 pricing games.
  3. Showcase Showdown: Spinning the Big Wheel to determine who goes to the Showcase.
  4. The Showcase: The two finalists bid on a package of prizes. Closest to actual retail price without going over wins.

Getting Out of Contestant's Row

Each episode begins with four contestants called to the front. The host reveals a prize, and each contestant gives a bid. The goal is to guess the closest price without going over. If all bids are over, the host announces it, and everyone bids again with lower numbers.

The contestant with the winning bid gets to come on stage and play a pricing game for a chance to win more prizes or cash. New contestants are called to fill the vacant spot in Contestant's Row, keeping four active bidders at all times.

Popular Pricing Games

After making it out of Contestant’s Row, players face one of the show’s many legendary pricing games. Some classics include:

  • Plinko: Drop chips down a pegboard to win up to $50,000.
  • Cliff Hangers: Guess prices to keep a mountain climber from falling off the edge.
  • Punch-a-Bunch: Punch through paper holes to find cash prizes.
  • Any Number: Guess digits to fill in prices of three prizes—one of which is usually a car.
  • Range Game: Stop a sliding range to capture the correct price window.

Each game is different, but all involve pricing items accurately—whether single guesses, range selections, or multiple items. The host guides contestants with rules unique to each game.

The Showcase Showdown (Big Wheel)

Once three pricing games have been played, the three winners spin the iconic Big Wheel. The goal is to get as close to $1.00 as possible without going over in one or two spins. Key rules include:

  • If a contestant gets $1.00 exactly in one or two spins, they win a $1,000 bonus and a bonus spin.
  • In the bonus spin, landing on 5 or 15 cents wins $10,000; hitting $1.00 again wins $25,000.
  • The top two scorers move on to the final Showcase round.

The Showcase

In the grand finale, the two remaining players are shown extravagant prize packages, such as vacations, cars, home furnishings, or electronics. Each contestant submits a single bid on their showcase.

The contestant who comes closest to the actual retail price without going over wins their entire showcase. If they’re within $250 of the actual price, they win both showcases—a very rare and exciting moment on the show.

Scoring and Winning

Unlike point-based game shows, The Price Is Right uses a progressive elimination format. Success is based on:

  • Accurately estimating prices in Contestant’s Row
  • Winning a pricing game
  • Out-spinning others at the Big Wheel
  • Making the smartest bid in the Showcase

There’s no cumulative score—each round is a fresh opportunity to win. Some contestants leave with cash and prizes from their pricing game even if they don’t make it to the Showcase.

Tips and Strategies

  • Watch the show: Familiarity with common item prices and game mechanics is key.
  • Study grocery store prices: Many pricing games involve food or household goods.
  • Bid smart in Contestant’s Row: Being the last bidder gives you a tactical advantage.
  • On the Big Wheel: Always spin again if you land below 50 cents on the first spin.
  • Stay calm: The studio energy is electric—don’t let nerves cloud your decisions.

How to Play at Home or for Events

The Price Is Right makes a fantastic game for parties, fundraisers, or classrooms. Use replicas of Contestant’s Row items and pricing games adapted to your audience. Some ideas include:

  • Mini Plinko boards
  • Printable price guessing cards
  • Digital Big Wheel spinners
  • Customized showcases with themed prizes

It’s a great way to teach estimation, economics, and decision-making—all with excitement and laughter.

Conclusion

The Price Is Right is more than just a game—it’s a celebration of enthusiasm, instinct, and the thrill of a well-placed bid. Whether you're watching from your couch or recreating the magic with friends, now you know how the show works—and how to make it your own.